Condition factor and hepatosomatic index as estimates of energy status in male three‐spined stickleback

Abstract

Seasonal variation in direct and indirect measures of energy status was examined using estimates of glycogen, lipid and protein levels in a single cohort of male three‐spined sticklebacks from an annual population collected each month over one complete year. Condition factor, somatic condition factor and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were calculated as indirect indices of energy status and the accuracy of these indirect measures as predictors of energy status was investigated. Results indicate that both condition factors were significant predictors of energy reserves (lipid, protein, glycogen and total energy), but that the proportion of variance accounted for was small. Both condition factors perform better as predictors of energy content per unit body weight. The HSI was a significant, but a weak predictor of total glycogen levels over the whole year. On a seasonal basis the relationship between HSI and energy reserves was highly variable. These indices are therefore poor predictors of energy reserves in male three‐spined sticklebacks.